A social media post by Montvale's Mayor Mike Ghassali about a drone hijacking incident has heightened community fears and led to a no-fly zone declaration, the Daily Mail reported.
Mayor Mike Ghassali of Montvale, New Jersey, detailed on Facebook how a local resident's hobby drone was commandeered by another more technologically advanced drone. This episode, which Ghassali described as "drone-jacking," occurred on December 15 and involved drones equipped with sophisticated counter-offensive systems.
The mayor's post immediately stirred anxiety and concern among the town’s residents. Reactions ranged from demands for more proof to accusations of spreading fear unnecessarily.
The resident involved reported that his son’s drone lost control and vanished after trying to track another drone, a situation that Ghassali relayed with certainty. The mayor’s recount of the incident highlighted the advanced capabilities of the interfering drone, suggesting a serious level of technological interference.
"A highly respected, professional, and trustworthy Montvale resident informed me with 100 percent certainty, that his son’s hobby drone attempted to follow one of the drones and it was 'drone-jacked'. He lost total control of his drone and it went disappearing into the air," Ghassali stated.
This alarming revelation prompted a flood of comments on social media, with residents expressing their dismay and confusion over the incident.
In response to the incident and growing public concern, Mayor Ghassali announced a ban on flying drones over Montvale. He declared a no-fly zone two days before his Facebook disclosure, emphasizing the seriousness with which he viewed the potential threat to safety and security.
"It’s now becoming a complete joke. The feds can’t control the air space, and yesterday my phone didn’t stop with drone sightings messages... So I am making an emergency declaration: NO FLY ZONE FOR DRONES over my town, Montvale. FLY AT YOUR OWN RISK. Residents: Please do not discharge your weapons," the mayor explained.
His decision, although aimed at safeguarding the community, also sparked debate about the effectiveness and legality of such a local decree.
Adding to the tension, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, located near Montvale, reported on December 19 that it had experienced unauthorized drone activities. According to Kitsana R. Dounglomchan, a base spokesperson, these incidents involved drones attempting to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional institution at Fort Dix.
"This year, there have been multiple drone detections, involving attempts to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional institution hosted on our base," Dounglomchan revealed. The base has since stepped up its countermeasures against such unauthorized activities.
The proximity of these drone incidents to Montvale has only added to the anxiety and speculations among the town’s residents.
The public outcry following the mayor's post was significant. Residents and Facebook users called for more transparency and evidence to substantiate the claims made. Questions about escalating the issue to state and federal authorities were also raised.
"With all due respect Mr. Mayor Mike Ghassali, it seems putting up social media posts, declaring an emergency, and during TV interviews is not resolving the matter. How do we get this in front of the congressmen and senators of the state so they can get answers from the FBI?" one resident asked.
Another skeptical voice added, "Where is the video of it happening?" highlighting the community's demand for concrete evidence.
